Since the launch of the campaign in January 2012, almost 400 mayors from 35 states and the District of Columbia have publicly declared their support for marriage equality by signing the Mayors for the Freedom to Marry statement. The goal of the group's relaunch, which they've called Light Up the Map, is to swell the number of pro-equality mayors to 500 in every state in the country.

The centerpiece of the Light Up the Map program is an interactive map that marriage supporters can use to discover whether their mayor has come out for equal marriage. If their mayor isn't on the map, they can nominate them. Freedom to Marry has already filled in the mayors of each state's most populous cities, so residents of those cities can simply click on their mayor's name and they'll be taken to a screen where they can customize and send a letter urging their mayor to stand up for equality.

In my home state of Wisconsin, for example, I found out that three mayors (Bayfield, Madison, and Milwaukee) have come out for marriage equality, but that my hometown mayor has not. (Come on, Jim!) In Vermont, the other state I consider home, three of the state's eight mayors have signed Freedom to Marry's statement, thanks in large part to a campaign spearheaded by Vermont Freedom to Marry.

Click here to check out the map and see how you can participate in this important campaign and help light up the map for marriage equality. It looks like support is especially needed in the southern, prairie, and Rocky Mountain regions of the country.

Leave a comment

We want to know your opinion on this issue! While arguing about an opinion or idea is encouraged, personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please be respectful of others.

The editorial team will delete a comment that is off-topic, abusive, exceptionally incoherent, includes a slur or is soliciting and/or advertising. Repeated violations of the policy will result in revocation of your user account. Please keep in mind that this is our online home; ill-mannered house guests will be shown the door.